Abstract
A revision of the family Herpyllobiidae has led to an exclusion of the genera Saccopsis, Rhizorhina, and Cyclorhiza. The first is referred to a family of its own whereas the other two are transferred to the Choniostomatidae and Phyllodicolidae respectively. The family hereafter comprises three genera only, Herpyllobius, Eurysilenium, and the ill-defined Phallusiella, with a total of 12 species which are all parasites on polynoid worms. Descriptions, illustrations, and a complete list of distributional records are given of all species, four of which are new to science. It is shown that the parasites in general exhibit no intimate host specificity. With very rare exceptions, however, the location on the host is constant for each species, whereas it varies considerably from one species to another. The family is bipolar; 9 species are found in arctic and north temperate waters, the remaining 3 are antarctic.